Director of Innovation and Technology

Industry: Diagnostics | Drug Detection | Optical Physics | Artificial Intelligence

About the Company

We are a seed-stage deep technology company building next-generation diagnostic solutions for drug and substance screening. Our platform integrates novel optical physics with advanced machine learning to deliver novel, accessible, and scalable drug detection solutions. Our mission is to transform how companies, governments, regulators, and public health agencies detect and monitor drug use.

We move fast, think rigorously, and embrace the realities of startup life—high ambition, rapid iteration, and meaningful impact. If you thrive in dynamic environments where you can build from first principles and see your work reach the field quickly, you'll fit right in.

The Role

We are seeking a Director of Innovation and Technology to lead our multidisciplinary R&D, productization, and AI/ML initiatives as we scale from benchtop systems to field validated, commercial products. This role is both strategic and hands-on: you will set the technology vision, build the roadmap, lead cross-functional teams, and ensure execution across optical hardware, sample collections, UI/UX, software, Al/ML, and regulatory pathways.

You will partner closely with executive leadership and business stakeholders to align technical decisions with market needs, accelerate commercialization, and position the company at the forefront of photonics-driven diagnostics.

Who You Are

• A product-minded technology leader who operates at the intersection of strategy and execution, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and resource constraints; energized by building from scratch and iterating quickly.
• Experienced in diagnostics, drug detection, and optical/photonic medical devices, with familiarity navigating regulatory pathways.
• Experienced in machine learning best practices for diagnostic applications, from data pipelines to model validation and deployment.
• A builder who can drive the progression from benchtop → prototype → pilot → commercial product.
• A collaborative leader who grows teams, breaks down silos, and communicates effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Bonus: You have taken a diagnostic product from lab to market.

Key Responsibilities

• Technology Strategy and Leadership
• Define and execute a cohesive technology strategy and multi-year roadmap for spectroscopy-driven diagnostics and AI/ML-enabled detection.
• Align technology initiatives with customer needs, regulatory requirements, and commercial goals in close partnership with the CEO, COO, product, science, and go-to-market teams.
• Serve as a key member of the executive team contributing to company-wide planning, fundraising support, partnerships, and IP strategy.
• Stay on the leading edge of emerging technologies—particularly photonic based diagnostics —and bring relevant innovations into the company, as well as coaching the team on staying on the cutting edge at all times.
• R&D and Productization
• Lead multidisciplinary R&D across optical physics, laser spectroscopy, embedded systems, software engineering, data science, and UX.
• Integrate laser spectroscopy hardware, firmware, data pipelines, and ML models into a unified, reliable diagnostic device and platform.
• Drive design controls, verification/validation planning, clinical trial readiness, and regulatory documentation in collaboration with quality and regulatory partners.
• Ensure secure, scalable, and compliant technology foundations.
• Execution and Team Building
• Establish clear roadmaps, requirements, and operating cadences; solicit and structure ideas from across the team via thoughtful processes and working sessions.
• Manage budgets, milestones, lead technical vendor selection, contracting, and oversight of third-party partners.
• Roll up your sleeves when needed—dive into technical details without losing the strategic thread.
• Cross-Functional Enablement
• Collaborate with channel leads, operations, marketing, and sales to ensure technology and product plans enable market entry, scale, and customer success.
• Drive continuous improvement, balancing near-term deliverables with long-term platform investments.
• Maintain an external radar on emerging technologies—particularly photonics and ML for diagnostics—and bring relevant innovations into the company.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in technology leadership with proven success in roles such as Director/Head of Technology, VP Engineering/Product, CTO, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience scaling technology in a regulated or clinically adjacent environment; diagnostics and drug detection strongly preferred.
• Track record of building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams (engineering, product, design, data/ML).
• Graduate degree (PhD or equivalent) in physics, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• Deep expertise in laser-based spectroscopy (e.g., CRDS, absorption spectroscopy, Mid IR Spectroscopy, integrated photonics,..) and optical/photonic systems.
• Practical experience applying machine learning to biosensing or diagnostics, including data quality, validation, and deployment best practices.
• R&D leadership in medical device development with successful product launches; familiarity with regulatory frameworks and design controls.
• Startup or spinout experience preferred, comfortable operating with speed, constraints, and ambiguity.
• Strong business acumen and communication skills; adept at translating technology into customer value and commercial outcomes.
• Leadership style grounded in humility, collaboration, and trust-building across diverse teams and stakeholders.

Why It Matters

Drug misuse and inadequate screening impose enormous societal costs and human impact. Current solutions are outdated. We believe spectroscopy combined with AI can set a new standard for accuracy, speed, and scalability in drug detection.

How to Apply: Submit application to

Application Timeline

This position will remain open until filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply by Monday, October 27, 2025.